Toothbrush having a trapezoidal transverse head



y 1952 c. KISKY 2,603,806

TOOTHBRUSH HAVING A TRAPEZOIDAL TRANSVERSE HEAE Filed Jan. 27, 1947 Y INVENTOR. CHRISTIAN KISKY ATTORNEY Patented July 22, 1952 TOOTHBRUSH HAVING A TRAPEZOIDAL TRANSVERSE HEAD,

Christian Kisky, Lake Grove, Oreg.

Application-January 27, 1947, Serial No. 724,631

My present invention relates to a new and improved tooth brush.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tooth brush which will encourage the use of the proper method of brushing teeth. It is an established dental principle that teeth should be brushed vertically or in line with the longitudinal axes thereof as distinguished from the ordinary practice of brushing teeth horizontally or across the surfaces thereof in line with the gums. Horizontal brushing, particularly when a stiff brush is used, may result in rapid deterioration of the enamel of the teeth, particularly at the thinly enameled portion thereof adjacent the gums. Furthermore, such horizontal brushing serves to pack food and other particles between the teeth rather than to clean the dental crevices, thus causing the accumulation of detical brushing movement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a brush wherein the bristles are so inclined with respect to the elongated handle which fits within the palm of the brushing hand that they are caused to approach the teeth and gums at an approximate angle of 45 degrees thereto whereby the bristles will yield and bend rather than jab 'into' the tissues of the gums. The advantage of such a construction is that the gums are protected from inflammation and puncturing by stiff and sharp bristles and thus the opportunity for gum deteriorating bacteria to penetrate into the tissues of the gum is lessened.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tooth brush having the foregoing characteristics, objects and advantages wherein the handle portion and the transverse heads or bristle carrying members are joined by relatively narrow neck portions permitting the entry of bristle carrying portions of the tooth brush into all remote corners of the mouth without excessively straining or stretching the lips of the user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a brush having the foregoing objects and 2 Claims. 01. 15167)' advantages wherein the bristle tufts are provided in a plurality of rows, the bristles of one row being staggered with respect to the bristles of the other'row so that regardless of the positioning of the tooth brush at least one bristle tuft will enter each crevice between the teeth as the brush is moved vertically across the surfaces thereof.

' The objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully apparent from a study of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a brush made in accordance with the present invention and having a single head thereon;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the brush of Fig. '1;'

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a double-ended brush made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the brush'of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of double-ended brush;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the brush of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view showing a partial section through the incisor bearing portion of the maxilla of a brush user and illustrating the functioning of the present tooth brush in brushing the labial and lingual surfaces of the teeth;

Fig. 8 is a partial view in side elevation of the jaws of a person using the present invention to brush behind therearmost molar of the upper J w;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the brush of the present invention in use to brush the labial surfaces of the molars; and

Fig. 10 is a similar view illustratingthe arrangement of the bristle tufts whereby assurance is achieved that at least one bristle tuft will operate upon each crevice between adjoining pairs of teeth.

In one sense the present invention is an improvement upon my prior Patent No. 2,378,641 issued June 19, 1945, reissued as Reissue No. 22,938, reissued November 25, 1947. In many other senses, however, the present invention bears but little relation to the foregoing patent and application for reissue thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 there is disclosed a tooth brush comprising an elongated handle l0 having substantially planar configuration in cluding an upper surface II and a lower or rear surface l2. The handle is preferably of considerable width with respect to its thickness so that the planar surfaces thereof H and I2 will be located within the palm of the user and thus serve to aid in locating the relationship of the bristles to the teeth.

At one end of the handle 10 there is provided a bristle bearing head [4 which is substantially planar in general outline and extends transversely 'of the handle H]. The upper or bristle bearing surface, l of the heady lies in a plane and, in this modification, the plane thereof is substantially parallel to the planes of the sur faces H and I2 of the handle ID. The head l4 is joined to the handle ID at the endofthe The labial head 24 has a bristle-bearing surface 21 facing outwardly from the handle portion at an angle of substantially degrees to a prolongation of the longitudinal axis of the handle as indicated by the plane J. The surface 21 carries a pair of transverse rows of bristle tufts 28, the tips of which lie substantially in a plane K parallel to the plane J. The bristle tufts 28 are substantially parallel to each other; extend outwardly away from the handle in the direction of the handle and are parallel to a plane L which 'is inclined outwardly at-su-bstantially 65 degrees to a plane M normal to the longitudinal axis of planar surface l2 of the rear surface of the handle I0, and the edges of the handled!) are convergent adjacent the junction to provide a relatively narrow neck portion I6. [5 of the head is provided with apair of rows of bristle tufts H, the axes of the bristle tufts" being substantially parallel and inclined forwardly at an acute angleto the surface 15. It Will benoted also that thesurface I I of the handle. I0 is preferably directed downwardly at the junction of the handle with the head so as to decrease the'thicknessrof the neck portion l6. "Since'this tooth brush is designed with asingle head," which head must serve to brush both the lingual and labial surfaces of the teeth, a compromiseangular relationship of the various parts betweenthat most desirable for lungual surfaces and that most desirablefor labial surfaces is arranged; It will be noted that the axes ofthe bristleituftsare substantiallyparallel to a plane A1QXtendinggupwardly and outwardly from the plane B of the rear surface [2 of the handle at anr-a'ngle of substantially 50 degrees so that the bristle tufts are at an angle of substantially 4O degreestoi a plane C normal to the longitudinal axis of: the handle. The bristle tufts I! termimate in' a plane D which is substantially parallel to the plane E coincident with the surface I5, which! in this; case is'substantially parallel and midway between the planes D and B. 1

Referring to Figs. 3 and l'there is disclosed a handle .20 of substantially planar characteristics in'that it is broader than it isiwide so that the palmfittin'g portion thereof will locate the bristle bearing surfaces. The upper surface 2| and the lower surface 22 extend generally in planes but are provided with transverse corrugations forming gripping surfaces to prevent slippage of the brush handle when the hands are wet.

,0ne end of the brush is provided with a lingual bristle head 23 and the opposite end of the brush is provided with a labial bristle head 24, each of'the heads being substantially planar and extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the handle 20, and each of the heads including a bristle bearing-planar surface lying at an acute angle-to the plane of the handle. The lingual head 23 has a bristle surface 25 extending upwardly from the handle portion at an angle of substantially degrees thereto as indicated by the plane F. The surface 25 carries -a pair of transverse rows of -bristletufts 26, the tips of which lie substantially in.a plane G parallel to the plane F. The bristle tufts 26' are substantially parallel to each other, extend outwardly away from the handle in the direction of the handle and are parallelto a'plane H which is inclined outwardly at substantiallyl5 degrees to the plane I normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle. There'- fore, the planes F and G are at an angle of substantially 45 degrees to the plane H.

The surface the handle. Therefore, the planes J and K are at substantially degrees to the plane L.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 there is disclosed a handle 35 of substantially planar characteristics havinga' planar upper surface 3| and a planar lower surface 32. One end of the brush is provided with a lingual bristle head 33 and the other end of the brush is provided with'a labial bristle head 34, each of the heads being substantially planar and extending transversely of theqlongitudinal axis of the handle inland each'ofthe heads including a bristle-bearing planar SUI-.- face lying at an acute-angle to the plane ofthe handle. M w 7} The lingual, headz33 has a planar bristle surface 35 extending upwardly from the handle portion at an angle of substantially 20v degrees thereto, as indicated-at 'the plane N. The surface 35 carries a pair of transverse rows of bristletufts 36, the tips of which lie substantially in a plane 0 parallel to the. plane N. The-bristle tufts 36 are substantially parallel to eaclrpother, extend outwardly away from the-handle in the direction -of the handle and are'paralleLto a plane Pwhichis inclined outwardly at substantially 15 degrees toa plane Q normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle. Therefore; the planes N and O are at an angle of substantially degrees to the plane P. 4

The labial head 34'has a-bristle surface '31 facing away from the handle portion-atan angle of substantially 10 degrees to a prolongationof the axis ofthe handle as indicated by the plane; R. The surface 31 carrieda pair of transverse rows of bristle-tufts 38, the tips of which lie substa n.

tanym a plane S parallel to the-plane lit.- The bristle tufts are substantially parallel tofeach Figs. 1 and 2 the head I4 is substantially rec-' tangular in outline while in the brushes illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive the bristle-bear ing heads are provided with divergent end sur faces so that the outer edges thereof are wider than the inner edges thereof. With respect to the first modification the inner row of bristles contains the same number of bristle tufts as the outer row, while in each of the other bristle heads there is one less bristle tufton the inner row than there is on the outer row. Also the first modification has the bristle tufts in line with'each other in the'direction of the handle, whereas in;

all other modifications the bristle tufts "in one row are staggered with respect to the bristle tufts in the other row so that one bristle tuft covers;

the space between-pairs of bristle tufts ,in the otherrow in the direction of the handle.-

Itwill be noted in the modifications disclosed in Figs. 3-to 6.inclusive that the lingual bristle headis smallerthanthe labial bristle head, par: ticularly with respect to the width thereof. lihe heads at both ends preferably taper inwardly toward. the handle portion-so that the neck portions of the brush are relatively narrow in all dimensions.

The bristle-bearing head of the modification ofFig. l and the adjoining handle portion thereof is preferably so shaped that the rear surface opposite to the bristle-bearing surface l5 slopes upwardly away from the plane of therear surface H of the handle. The curvature thereof is irregular but a preferredv characteristic of. the curvejis that it shall lie within or substantially conform to the surface of a cylinder of revolutionV having as its axis the line W formed by the intersection of the plane D passing through the tips of the bristle tufts and the plane C normal to the end of the planar portion of the rear surface l2 of the handle. Also the tips of the outermost rows of bristles I! touch or lie within this imaginary cylindrical surface V. The same characteristic will be apparent with respect to each of the other bristle heads illustrated. The head 23 has its rear surface substantially conforming to or lying within an imaginary cylinder of revolution X having as itsf'axis a line Y formed by the intersection of the planes G and I. The rear surfaces of the head 24' and the adjoining portion of the handle 20 lies within an imaginary cylinder of revolution Z having as its axis the line a formed by the intersection of the plane K passing through the bristle tips and the plane M normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle at the end of the substantially planar portion of the rear surface thereof. The head 33 is formed to lie within or substantially conform to the surface of a cylinder of revolution 1) having as its axis the line 0 formed by the intersection of the plane 0 and the plane Q. The rear surface of the head 34 lies within an imaginary cylinder of revolution d having as its axis the line e formed at the intersection of the plane S passing through the bristle tips and the plane U normal to the handle at the end of the rear surface thereof.

Each of the imaginary cylinders of revolution is substantially tangent to the rear surface of the handle. It is immaterial to the present invention that the surfaces should exactly. follow this imaginary cylindrical surface but they preferably closely approximate such a surface sothat, as will be seen in Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 10, the brush heads may be fitted into close quarters such as represented by the space between the lips and the gums or the space behind the last molars and still be manipulated.

As seen in Fig. 7 a brush having a labial head, such as a head 24 of Fig. 3 will fit the space between the lips and the gums and will naturally cause the bristle tufts to approach the gums at an angle of substantially 45 degrees thereto so that, rather than be jabbed into the tissues of the gums, the bristles will bend back and lie along the surfaces thereof. This angle may be greater than 45 degrees but the lip discourages the tipping of the handle outwardly until the angle would become less than 45 degrees. The wider surface of the head is possible due to the conformation of the jaws and the lips or cheeks so that a greater number of bristles may be carried.

Fig. 7 also illustrates the use of a lingual head such as the head 33 of the brush illustrated in Fig. 5. It will be seen that the inclinationv of the bristles at the angle at which the brush would be held is substantially degrees to the surfaces of the gums when the bristles, approach the gums in normal usage. g r r Fig. 8 illustrates the use of a lingual bristle head such as the head 33in reaching behind-the rearmost molars. The natural inclinationof the handle is, such that again the bristles approach the gums at an angle of 45 degrees or greater. Whether the handle -be inserted so as to ;lie within the teeth or. between the teeth or outside of the teeth is relativelyimmaterialsince the laterally extending portions of the head provide means for reaching the ordinarilyinaccessible portions of the, rear molars.

Fig. 9 illustrates the use of a labial head such I as the head 34 in brushing the labialsurfaces of the molars, showing that the narrow neck at the junction of the head and the handle facilitates the entry of bristle tufts to the surfaces of the teeth without excessively stretching the lips or cheeks. I 1

Fig. 10 illustrates a bristle head, such as the head at. brushing the labial surfaces of molars and bicuspids andshowing that no matter. where the-head is positioned there will be at least. one bristle tuft 3B in. line with the grooves between each pair of teeth due to the staggering of the bristle tufts in the rows. r i

In Figs. '7, 8, 9 and :10, there are directional arrows showing the direction of use or motion of the brush in brushing the teeth. It will beapparent that the transverse heads and angular arrangements thereof encourage the proper vertical and downward brushing motion on the upper teeth. It will also be apparent that in most cases continuation of the same movement will cause a vertically downward brushing motion across the lower teeth. It is more desirable that the angularity of the brush handle be reversed and the lower teeth be brushed vertically upward. However, even though a person may be inclined to omit reversing the tooth brush and continue a vertical stroke downward across the lower teeth such a motion is preferable to the horizontal scrubbing which is encouraged by the conventional tooth brush.

I have herein illustrated, for the most part, bristle tufts having each bristle of the same length as all others. However, in Fig. 3, I have illustrated that the bristle tufts 26 may be trimmed to form ridges running transversely of the handle. The trimming could be in a direction longitudinal of the handle if desired, or if a proper process could be developed each bristle tuft might be conically trimmed. However, it is a feature of my tooth brush that all :bristles could be of the same length and yet be just as satisfactory as ridged or pointed bristle tufts. However, if desired any of the heads herein illustrated might have bristle tufts of modified shape.

Likewise it is to be noted that in Figs. 1 and 2 I have illustrated a bristle head which is a compromise head. However, it will be obvious that a single tooth brush could be provided with a head such as the head 23, or a head such as the head if desired and that the ends thereof could be divergent, and its surface sloped, and staggered tufts be formed thereon, provided that the other advantageous features as illustrated and described were incorporated in the single head.

Having illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications in detail and arrangement thereof are permissible. All such modifications as come within the true spirit and'scope of the appended claims are considered to be a part of my invention.

Iclaim: v a L -A tooth brush comprising an elongated handle, a narrow bristle base extending trans verselyof 'said handle at the end thereof 1 and projecting laterally from both sides of said handle, and a plurality of parallel bristle tufts extending from said bristle base, said bristle base having the general shape of a trapezoid with its shorter parallel side toward 'said handle and its longer parallel side forming the forward edge of the'tooth brush, the bristle bearing surface of said bristle base beinga fiat surface inclined to said handle, the opposite surface of said bristle base being rounded toward the longer parallel side of the bristle bearing fiat surface, and said bristle tufts being inclined toward the longer parallel side of the bristle bearing flat surface and terminating in a plane parallel to said flat surface.

2. A tooth brush comprising an elongated handle, a narrow bristle base extending transversely of said handle at the end thereof and projecting laterally fro-m both sides of said handle, and a plurality of parallel bristle tufts extending from said bristle base, said bristle base having the general shape of a trapezoid with its shorter parallel side toward said handle and its longer parallel side forming the forward edge of the tooth brush, the bristle bearing surface of said ibristle base being a flat surface inclinedfto said handle, the opposite surface of said ibristle base being inclined upwardly toward said longer parallel side of the bristle bearing surface and forming therewith an acute angle, and said bristle tufts being inclined toward said longer parallel side of the bristle bearing flat surface and terminating in a plane parallel to said fiat surface.

' CHRISTIAN KISKY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date De. 96,599 Gilbert et a1. Aug. 20, 1935 28,794 Wadsworth June 19, 1860 1,115,165 Briggs Oct. 27, 1914 1,132,326 Fouyer Mar. 16, 1915 1,682,548 Bigoney Aug. 28,1928 1,706,555 Weis Mar; 26, 1929 1,807,281 Cross May 26, 1931 2,053,905 Fuller Sept. 8, 1936 2,084,873 Strause June 22, 1937 2,114,947 Warsaw Apr. 19, 1938 2,168,964 Strasser Aug. 8, 1939 2,241,584 Cohen .May 13, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,816 Great Britain of 1873 13,994 Great Britain of 1913 France Apr. 21, 1941 

